But the number of thefts has fallen for the first time in five years. Figures show that 18,954 bikes were stolen in the capital in 2006/07, nearly a fifth of the 102,485 thefts nationwide.

In 2002/03, there were a total of 16,232 thefts in London, rising to 21,572 in 2005/06, when 105,778 went missing across Britain.

Islington recorded the highest number of thefts in London in 2006/07, with a total of 1,682, down from 1,821 in 2005/06. Second worst-hit was Wandsworth, where 1,357 bikes were stolen, up from 1,346 in the year before, followed by Camden with 1,329 thefts, down from 1,521.

The Government figures were released in answer to a Commons question posed by Tory MP and London mayoral candidate Boris Johnson.

Jenny Jones of the London Assembly Greens called for police to do more to combat bicycle theft, including wider use of "bait bikes" with a tracking system that can help trap organised gangs of thieves.

"With new bikes selling for an average of £400 a time, this is a lucrative trade for thieves," she said. "Cycling is good for the environment and great for people's health but the level of theft is creating a barrier to people keeping it up. The police really should be making more effort to recover stolen bikes."

Recorded offences of theft of a pedal cycle 2002-03 to 2006-07

2002 - 03

2006 -07

Barking and Dagenham

120

174

Barnet

218

247

Bexley

116

115

Brent

229

259

Bromley

179

212

Camden

1,347

1,329

City of Westminster

1,165

1,277

Croydon

240

264

Ealing

467

448

Enfield

186

179

Greenwich

249

395

Hackney

1,019

1,167

Hammersmith and Fulham

1,058

1,046

Haringey

247

392

Harrow

128

121

Havering

143

130

Hillingdon

264

247

Hounslow

405

569

Islington

1,140

1,682

Kensington and Chelsea

834

758

Kingston upon Thames

387

479

Lambeth

785

1,022

Lewisham

270

362

Merton

360

320

Newham

323

275

Redbridge

122

168

Richmond upon Thames

559

739

Southwark

798

1,248

Sutton

188

232

Tower Hamlets

846

1,061

Waltham Forest

176

366

Wandsworth

1,237

1,357

Total

15,805

18,640

Total London(1)

16,232

18,954

Total England

91,589

102,485

(1) includes the City of London police and Metrolpolitan police service.

Note: The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.